Such commissions can turn into expensive legal juggernauts that develop a life of their own and end up in unexpected places. But how else does the Government get to the bottom of Queensland's most-appalling public administration scandal?

There have been nine reviews and audits and still voters don't know exactly what went wrong, who was responsible and whether the state can recover any of the estimated $1.2 billion the flawed system could cost by 2017. And, most importantly, how we can make sure such a debacle never happens again.

The Labor Opposition has, rather unwisely, questioned the worth of spending $5 milion on the inquiry, which it calls a "political and expensive diversion".

This is rich coming from the party that was in office during this extraordinary mess. Labor ministers were in charge when the payroll system went live in March 2010 and they remained in charge through the bungling and expensive efforts to fix a program that was supposed to cost only $40 million.

They were also in charge when the initial, insulting response to the thousands of the state's most dedicated public servants - our health workers - was to suggest they seek help from charities and to offer $200 hardship payments. And through it all no Labor minister, including former public works minister Robert Schwarten and former health minister Paul Lucas, saw fit to take personal responsibility for any element of the debacle. Labor should choose its words wisely over summer because voters are aware of the mess they oversaw.

There is a danger this inquiry could stagger down the road of politics. But as Tim Carmody SC has shown in his handling of the Government's commission of inquiry into child protection, it is quite possible to run a rigorous and probing investigation into sensitive areas of public policy without the process turning into a political witchunt.

He has skilfully avoided allowing the Heiner affair - a 20-year controversy involving shredded documents and "hush money" at the John Oxley Detention Centre - get in the way of the far more pressing business of making sure the state's current child protection practices are up to scratch.

Similarly with this new inquiry, whatever the Government's political purpose, Mr Chesterman will no doubt have the experience and skill to get to the heart of the matter - what went wrong and how we avoid such mistakes again.

Although the business of working out who was responsible for the health payroll debacle is important, the most valuable findings will be those that explain how what should have been a relatively straightforward project became so complicated and how we apply the lessons learnt to improve standards of public administration.

Commissions of inquiry are expensive and should be used sparingly. But there are occasions, and this is one, where nothing less than the full weight of the law is needed to seek the truth.

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A FIRST-CLASS SCHOOL YEAR

ANOTHER school year ends today, bringing with it the relief and excitement of the summer holidays. Well done to students, teachers and administrators who have completed the year and performed to their best.

Many teachers and support staff have again gone above and beyond this year, helping students in more areas than the classroom. Some of those working hard again this year were coming off a hectic 2011 during which school life was affected by floods and Cyclone Yasi.

Those efforts, along with many others, reinforce the valuable role that schools, teachers and support staff play throughout Queensland.

May everyone involved enjoy a relaxing and rewarding rest before school resumes in late January for a new year.

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Responsibility for election comment is taken by David Fagan, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld, 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND. (ACN 009 661 778). A full list of our editors and journalists, with contact details, is available at couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/ourstaff.

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